Russian navy automobiles and tools are nonetheless shifting close to the Antonov Airport, the place a portion of a big navy convoy was photographed Feb. 28, in response to satellite tv for pc photographs launched Tuesday by Maxar Applied sciences.
A senior U.S. protection official mentioned Tuesday the convoy has not superior past the airport in Hostomel, which is about 30 kilometers outdoors downtown Kyiv. The official famous that assessments present Russian forces are attempting to achieve Kyiv by means of different instructions.
Maxar Applied sciences has been monitoring Russian navy actions round Ukraine by means of satellite tv for pc photographs since late final yr, lately releasing images that confirmed a big navy convoy touring towards the capital metropolis of Kyiv and spanning practically 40 miles of highway.
Clouds lined a big part of the realm the place the convoy was final seen, in response to Maxar, however photographs taken Tuesday present armored automobiles and tools shifting close to the Antonov Airport close to Hostomel. A portion of the convoy was beforehand photographed in the identical space on Feb. 28.
Further photographs launched Tuesday present craters, which a Maxar spokesman mentioned are from bombs, and a broken bridge in Irpin, west of Kyiv.
Ukrainians have been crossing the Irpin River on an improvised path beneath the bridge, which The Related Press reported was destroyed by a Russian airstrike, as a way to evacuate.
Ukrainian officers advised the Related Press that a secure evacuation hall opened from Irpin on Tuesday, however it’s unclear how lengthy it was open or how many individuals used it.
Earlier agreements for secure evacuation corridors have failed, with Ukraine claiming Russia violated ceasefire agreements. The Russian navy denied firing on convoys.
Two million Ukrainian refugees have left the nation within the 12 days because the Russian invaded began, in response to the UN Refugee Company, with greater than half touring to Poland.
“The refugees who’ve crossed are secure from the violence, however none have been spared enormous loss and trauma. Behind the monolithic statistics are 2 million tales of separation, anguish, and loss,” mentioned Filippo Grandi, the UN Excessive Commissioner for Refugees, in an announcement.
U.S. protection officers estimate greater than 600 Russian missiles have been fired from Russia or inside Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24.
